Kos Watermelons and the Melon Island

Long ago, Kos was famous for silk and wine, one a defunct industry, the other seeing a revival in recent years, with several wineries popping around the volcanic landscape of the island. And the island is still famous for its melons, which are still sold by the roadside in many villages, and heavily exported to neighborhood European countries.

Kos watermelons are cultivated after the grain crops are harvested in early May. By the end of July, they are already ripe and ready for the first buyers. Vendors pile the fruit along the roadside and wait patiently from morning till dusk. The market in Kos stacks watermelons and Restaurants now add fresh melon to their regional menus, from displaying generous slices at the breakfast buffet, to tipping it into salads or using it to ornate refreshing cocktails.

Nothing tastes better than a slice of fresh melon by the beach either. Eons of volcanic activity confer the perfect soil conditions for cultivating melons that have a unique taste as they are also organically-grown. This fruit is the king of the summer on Kos, a joy for young and old, and definitely a must-have if you want to eat like a local. Besides enjoying the taste of the island, there are some advantages to eating Kos melons.

The Benefits of Eating Kos Watermelons

Kos watermelons are soaked with nutrients, lycopene, vitamins, and antioxidants. The Lycopene Leader by the National Watermelon Promotion Board reveals that you enjoy 15 to 20 milligrams for every two-cup serving of watermelon. Lycopene has a major role in lowering cardiovascular disease risk according to researchers and nutritionists. Lycopene has also been linked to bone health and prostate cancer prevention.

Another important phytonutrient found in watermelon is citrulline, which converts to arginine, two amino acids that promote blood flow, improving your cardiovascular health. Consuming watermelons helps with a healthy digestive tract by preventing constipation. In summer months the fruit is also great to avoid dehydration as its content is 92% water. Plus, one cup of watermelon provides 21% of your daily need of vitamin C.

So join us at Astir Odysseus Kos Resort & Spa and ask for fresh watermelons in the season. Our staff will prepare everything you wish: delicious watermelon salads, smoothies, cocktails, and other specials.